NewsOne Minute: Diddy Wows Crowd With Howard Speech

Chants roared from the crowd as attendees of Howard University’s 146th commencement waited to hear from one of the entertainment industry’s most notable figures, Sean “Diddy” Combs. After weeks of controversy surrounding the university’s decision to award Diddy with an honorary doctorate of humanities, the media mogul took the stage to address more than a thousand graduates, even those who disagreed with Howard choosing him as the commencement speaker. Read more.

First lady Michelle Obama is urging graduates of Dillard University to continue to fuel their hunger for education and use it to guide and inspire the “next generation of geniuses.” On Saturday the first lady told the 226 graduates of the historically black college that they have opportunities and skills that their parents and grandparents never could have imagined. She urged them to use those skills to help those coming after them. Read more.

U.S. companies with limited or no drug testing turn away black applicants under the implied assumption that we use drugs, according to a new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER.) Economics professor Abigail Wozniak of University of Notre Dame, who conducted the study, looked at how hiring practices differ between states with laws that encourage drug testing and states with laws with limit or don’t require the testing. She found that applying at pro-testing companies improves the chances of blacks getting hired – because we can ultimately “prove” we’re drug-free – while applying at limited drug testing companies appears to hurt blacks because, well, we’re automatically linked to drugs anyway. Read more.

Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes has been sued by a writer over allegations she borrowed ideas for short-lived series Off The Map. Debra Feldman claims in her lawsuit that Rhimes lifted plots from her manuscript The Red Tattoo, which has similar themes to Off the Map, about US doctors working in a South American village. A representative for Rhimes has refused to comment on the case, telling TMZ.com, “It is our policy not to comment on frivolous claims.” Rhimes was an executive producer on the series, which was cancelled after one season in 2011. Read more.

“I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness,” stated Donald Sterling in an interview with Anderson Cooper. Cooper managed to land a sit-down with the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. The interview will air Monday on CNN. Sterling, who was caught on a recording making racist comments during a conversation with his girlfriend V. Stiviano, told Cooper, “I’m not a racist.” He continued, “I made a terrible mistake. I’m here to apologize.” “Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again,” said Sterling. Read more.